Vladimir Putin, who has repeatedly said that he does not favor the break-up of Ukraine – but only greater autonomy for the East, appears to have changed course rather dramatically today. In a speech broadcast on Russian TV, the Russian leader stated “we need to immediately begin substantive talks… on questions of the political organisation of society and statehood for southeastern Ukraine.” As The Washington Post reports, use of the word “statehood” reflects a major shift in Kremlin policy towards ‘Novorossiya‘ – it would be a direct challenge not only to Kiev but also to Western European nations and the United States, which have been trying to force Moscow to back down. While not directly addressing the latest round of sanctions chatter, Putin concluded, perhaps ominously,“they should have known that Russia cannot stand aside when people are being shot almost at point-blank.”

President Vladimir Putin today dramatically raised the stakes in the Ukraine conflict by calling for the first time for statehood to be considered for the restive east of the former Soviet state.

“We need to immediately begin substantive talks… on questions of the political organisation of society and statehood for southeastern Ukraine with the goal of protecting the lawful interests of the people who live there,” Putin was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies on a TV show broadcast in the far east of the country.

Russia has previously only called for greater rights under a decentralised federal system to be accorded to the eastern regions of Ukraine, where predominantly Russian-speakers live.

And as The Washington Post reports,

Putin spoke of the need to end hostilities before winter and criticized European leaders for supporting Ukraine, in remarks made during a television interview first broadcast in Russia’s Far East and reported from Vladivostok by Russian news agencies. The interview was to be broadcast in Moscow seven hours later.

Putin has said repeatedly that he does not favor the breakup of Ukraine — though Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine in March — but only greater autonomy for the east. The word “statehood” suggests more than that, and if it reflects a major shift in Kremlin policy, it would be a direct challenge not only to Kev but also to Western European nations and the United States, which have been trying to force Moscow to back down.

…

“These are the inclusive talks that should determine the relationship with the eastern regions, that is, negotiations inside Ukraine on the internal Ukrainian order with respect for the interests of the country’s eastern regions, the interests of Novorossiya,” Peskov told reporters, according to Russian state-owned news agency Itar-Tass.

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Doesn’t sound very de-esacalation-y to us… but we are sure stocks will rally on the hopes of front-running the post-escalation de-escalation buying panic.

One day we the USA will learn to mind our own business! Unfortunately that day is not today. We need to stay out of it and focus on making our nation great again for EVERYONE: not just the 1%. We also need to put our borders on lock down. Why am I paying my hard earned money in taxes to pay for illegal immigrants? ! I work way to hard and have way to many other things I could spend that money on!!!!!!

I agree with Peter, but I also believe people need to look at the history of Russia. The Ukraine has been part of the Russian nation for many decades. The US needs to focus on the real problems here at home instead of shoving its will down the throats of all nations around the world.
The US has set up a puppet government in the Ukraine, they need to dissolve it, and go home.
Declaring war on Putin through the Ukraine is beyond stupid. Putin (like it or not) is one of the most popular men on the globe……..Manchurian Candidate Obama is near the bottom.
The US has so many problems at home. Schools in disarray, cities falling apart, jobs scarce……….the economy has been gutted, and the greedy guts in power don’t seem to care.
The US has become the most despised nation on the globe…….and for good reason. Get out of there, and worry about our own turf.

Putin speaks reality when he said talks are needed. Unfortunately, US citizens have lost their voices…….thanks to Citizens United, NDAA, and other seemingly benign laws have been established to strangle the hope and future of all Americans. The laws are so one sided, they work exclusively against the rights and futures of the people…….the paid off media discusses Christie’s diet and the future of old bag Clinton………no voice of any reason is allowed on the airwaves……all controlled by three major corporations. They have reached the point where they now eat each other……it disgusts anyone with two grains of reason.
The new republic is a bitter sham…….the fools now dine on each other. After the dollar collapses, I hope they take it on the chin. They have destroyed this republic for all time. Lincoln warned us: If the US is ever destroyed, it will not be from outside invasions, but from the Vandals Within.” Truer words were never spoken.

Look at our House and Senate. Fools, fanatics and outright sold to the highest bidder sorts such as John McCain and Mitch McConnell. There are a lot more, but they are so disgusting, the US reader can add them without much effort.

The end of the republic is quite apparent in the faces of the sold out congressional members…….

I find it too upsetting and repulsive to follow daily.
Because there is one story far more important, one that spells our doom regardless of the government we have…….Fukushima.

This story is blacked out by all governments because the truth of it reduces all their prancing and dancing to what it is……..noise…….nothing more.

Unless one opts to live underground, we all face death, including the politicians.

The least offensive the sound & name, the most powerful and oppressive the law………just as Orwell predicted…..

The Jim Willie interview with specific reference to Ukraine collapsing on itself and Germany showing common sensical signs of aligning with Russia at the expense of the EU & the bastard banksters is revealing.